Process of baling fibers



May 19, 1964 1.. B. SMITH PROCESS OF BALING FIBERS INVENTOR.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lanai, Httorneys Filed June 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lloyd .5. Smith, BY W,m/Z m Rt t orn eys L B. SMITH PROCESS OF BALING FIBERS May 19, 1964 Filed June 1, 1960 May 19, 1964 L. B. SMITH 3,133,563

PROCESS OF BALING FIBERS Ritorneys United States Patent 3,133,563 PROCESS OF BALING FIBERS Lloyd B. Smith, 824 N. 31st St, Birmingham, Ala. Filed June 1, 1960, Ser. No. 33,301 3 Claims. (Cl. 141-12) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 747,972, vfiled July 11, 19581, Method and Apparatus for Collecting Fibrous Materia s.

In the collection and baling of fibrous materials such as cotton and other natural fibers and man-made fibers similar to cotton, one of the major problems is to sep arate the fibers from the large volume of carrier air mixed with the fibers and to bale the fibers to the required bale density without damaging them. In prior mechanical baling processes, it is necessary to exert tremendous pressures on the fibers and then, while holding the compacted bale under pressure, cover the bale and place ties about it to prevent re-expansion. Even in forming the so-called low or standard density cotton bale to pounds per cubic foot) the apparatus required is very heavy and expensive and necessitates much attention for continuous operation. Present baling apparatus for forming the so-called high density (about pounds per cubic foot) and compress bales (about 32 to 36 pounds per cubic foot) are proportionately heavier and more expensive. Further, prior apparatus has necessitated the use of condensers ahead of the baling press to remove the air therefrom and these are expensive and not always trouble-free in operation. Still further, in the high density and compress bales it often is found that the layers of cotton in the bale are sheared along shear planes parallel to the direction of compressive force, thus breaking multitudes of the fibers and lowering the spinnable content of the bale.

In view of all the foregoing an object of my invention is to provide a process and apparatus especially adapted for carrying out the same by which cotton or other similar H fibrous material may be baled directly, that is without condensing the fibers, as it comes from the gin (in the case of cotton), or from any other source wherein the fiber is borne along by a carrier air stream.

Another object is to provide a process for baling airborne fibers which comprises the steps of directing the air-borne stream generally radially into a container rotating at a speed to cause the fibers to collect on the inner surface of the container and paclrat the desired density, and in shifting the point of impact of the stream longitudinally of the rotating container, thereby to build up a bale of generally concentric layers of fibers.

Anotherobject is to provide a baling process of the character designated in which the air-borne fiber from a single source is blown alternately into a pair of rotating containers, whereby when one container has been filled and is being removed, the other container is being filled,

.thus permitting the stream of fibers to flow without substantial interruption;

A further object is to provide baling apparatus embodying an open ended cylinder mounted for rotation 3,133,563 Patented May 19, 1964 'may be more easily opened in the textile mill opening room than present bales, this being accomplished by the aforesaid laying on of the fibers in forming the bale in such manner as to cause the fibers, during the opening operation, to peel otf somewhat in concentric layers. My improved bale is distinguished from a press made bale in which the layers of fibers are laid into the press box in somewhat leaf fold manner, and, after compression, oftentimes adhere so closely that in opening the bale it is diificult to feed the fibers uniformly to the blending apparatus. 7

Yet another object is to provide an improved fiber bale having the foregoing characteristics and which may be generally cylindrical in shape with an open core at the center, whereby such bale may be opened by supporting it on a shaft, mandrel or the like, while the fibers are being removed from its periphery, either with the bale held stationary or while the same is rotating.

Apparatus illustrating the constructional features of my invention and which may be used for carrying out my improved process and for producing my improved bale is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

' which may be made with my improved process and apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view substantially like FIG. 5 but showing thebale with a tubular core therein; and,

HG. 7 is a side elevational view of a bale after it is removed from the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention I have illustrated the same as embodying a pair of baling machines which are identical and which are disposed to receive an air-borne stream of fiber from a conduit 10. That is, while one of the machines is being filled the other is having the bale ejected and a new container put in place. In view of the fact that both of the units are identical a description of one will suffice for both. A

My improved apparatus comprises generally a rotating cylinder indicated generally by the numeral '11. Preferably, though not necessarily, the cylinder carries a stub axle 12 mounted in a bearing 13, for rotation on a horizontal axis. The axle 12 carries a pulley 14 and drive means such as multiple V-belts 16 are provided.

It will be noted that the cylinder 11 is open at one end. I provide a closure plate 17 for the open end which may be held in place by means of a plurality of centrifugal latches 18. The latches l8 have pointed ends which engage in holes 19 in the inner surface of the rotating cylinder 11. i r

The entire apparatus so far described may be supported from a pair of coil springs 21 in turn mounted on a cross 'shown leading to each cylinder.

d: ers the critical speed to a point safely below the operating speed of the parts. Therefore, by observing the gauge 28 the operator can determine the amount of fiber present in the apparatus after it is filled as now will be explained.

In the conduit is a plate-type valve 29. The valve may be conected to an arm 31 in turn connected to the armatures of solenoids 32 and 33. Theair-borne stream of fiber from the conduit 10 thus may be directed alternately into conduits 34 leading to each baling unit.

Slidably mounted about the exit end of conduit 34 is a tube 36. The tube 36 extends into the rotating cylinder 11, projecting through an opening 37 in the cover plate 17 On the inner or discharge end of tube 36 is a bracket 38. See particularly FIG. 3. Mounted for pivotal movement on the bracket 38 as at 39 is a deflecting plate 41. The plate 41 may be pivotally connected at 42 to a pushpull rod 43. The rod 43 is pivotally connected at 44 to a link 46 pivotally connected as at 47 to an arm 48 in turn pivotally connected at 49 to a stationary support indicated at 51. The lower end of arm 46 is pivotally connected at 52 to a bracket carried on the rearmost end of tube 36.

Mounted in suitable bearings 57 is a shaft 58 carrying a pulley 59 which is driven by a belt 61 in turn driven from an electric motor 62. Mounted on the shaft 58 is a cam 63. The cam 63 enages a roller 64 mounted on a bracket 66 carried by a depending arm 67 secured at its upper end to a horizontally extending arm 65 in turn secured to the rearmost end of the sliding tube 36. A spring 68 anchored as indicated urges the arm 67 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, thus to hold the roller 64 in contact with the surface of cam 63. It will thus be seen that as the cam 63 rotates the tube slides back and forth on the horizontal extent of the conduit 34. At the same time, the bathe plate 41 pivots about the pivot point 39, thus assuring that the fibers are directed into the front-and rear corners of the container, thus to build a bale having dense and fully packed ends. Of course, instead of baling the fibers directly in the cylinder I provide a container for the fibers indicated at 69 and which is removable after the bale is formed. The container may carry circumferential straps 70 or may be otherwise circumferentially reinforced to restrain the bale against radial expansion. See FIG. 7.

In order to withdraw the tube 36 and the plate 41 I provide a double acting hydraulic cylinder 71. The cylinder is under control of a valve 72 and is supplied with fluid under pressure from a source, not shown, through a line 73. The piston rod of the cylinder is extended outwardly as at 74 and is provided with a hook 76 which engages behind the arm 67. Thus, when it is desired to withdraw the tube 36, pressure is admitted to cylinder 71 in a direction to move the piston rod 74 in the appropriate direction as indicated.

In order to expel a finished bale B from the cylinder, in its package, I may provide a pusher plate 77 mounted on the end of a rod 78. Mounted on a fixed support 79 is a hydraulic cylinder 81 having a piston rod 82 which, when energized, extends outwardly and pushes the bale from the apparatus as partially illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be noted that piston rod 82 is not connected to the rod 78 as this would interfere with obtaining correct weight reading on the gauge 28.

It further will be noted that the cam 63 is so shaped that it causes the tube 36 to move quickly on one of its strokes and slower on the other. I have found that this action provides better defined layers in the bale. Also in the maximum in and out positions of tube 36 the bafiie plate 41 is positioned to direct the airborne stream of fibers into the corners of the container.

Referring now to FIG. 4 II illustrate in diagrammatic manner a wiring diagram for my improved apparatus. The motors for driving the V-belts 16 are indicated at 83.

The motors are provided with switches 84.and .are connected to the lines L and L as illustrated. The solenoids 32 and 33 are under control of manual switches 86 and 87 thereby to shift the valve 29 as desired. Mounted on the pressure sources 26 are pressure switches 88. The switches 88 are in series with signal lights or other forms of indicating devices 89, whereby the operator can tell when a certain weight of fiber has been placed in the apparatus.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5 it will be seen that the bale B built up in the operation of my improved process and apparatus consists of a plurality of layers each of which, and the direction of laying on of which, is indicated by the lines and arrows in FIG. 5. It will be noted that near the outer periphery of container 69 the layers are relatively thin and that they progressively increase in thickness toward the center of the bale. This is due to the fact that with the speed of rotation of the cylinder and container maintained constant, and with the speed of motor 62 also maintained constant, and assuming further that the flow of fiber is constant, the layers become thicker because they become smaller in diameter. Further, in view of the fact that the apparatus is operated at a speed high enough to obtain the densities required as hereinafter will be mentioned, the layers near the periphery are somewhat more compressed than the layers near the center since they are being operated upon by greater centrifugal force. My improved bale thus embodies essentially a plurality of concentrically arranged layers of fiber. Due to the laying on of the cotton in layers by means of reciprocating the point of impact of the carrier stream axially of the container, I provide a bale which has almost no tendency to expand axially and which has greatly reduced tendency to expand radially.

In FIG. 6 I show substantially the same bale as in FIG. 5 except that I may provide, as will hereinafter be explained, a central tube-like member 91.

From the foregoing the method 'of constructing my improved apparatus, carrying out my improved process, and to produce my improved bale may now be explained and understood. With cotton or other fiber being delivered in an air-borne stream through the conduit 10, and with the valve in the position shown in FIG. 1, it will be apparent that the air-borne stream is delivered to the lefthandmost unit. With a container 69 of kraftboard or the like in place and with the plate 17 installed, the drum 11 may be rotated at a speed sufiicient to exert a force on the order of a thousand times gravity on the fibers. By energizing motor 62 the tube 36 is reciprocated back and forth and, in conjunction with the pivoted bafile plate, serves both to turn the cotton 90, radially, onto the inner periphery of the container and to distribute it axially along the package to be formed. The air is discharged through the enlarged opening 37 surrounding the tube 36. As soon as the desired weight of cotton is in place in the container the operator gets a signal from one of the signal lamps 89. Whereupon, he energizes the hydraulic cylinder 71 thus to withdraw the tube 36 from the container, this being done prior to stopping completely the rotation of container 11. The plate 17 is now removed by pulling out the gravity actuated latches whereupon the cylinder 81 is energized thus to push the entire package out, letting the same fall upon the floor or onto a suitable conveyor, not shown. Of course, as soon as the correct weight of cotton is reached, the operator closes switch 87, throwing the valve 29 to a position to start discharging into the righthandmost unit of FIG. 1, it being understood that it is now rotating and ready to receive the fiber. As soon as the bale is discharged from the lefthandmost unit a new container 69 is inserted and that unit is ready to commence another cycle.

In my experiments so far conducted with apparatus of this type I have manufactured and tested a machine in which the inner dimensions of the container 69 were 34 inches in diameter by 18 inches long. Using cotton, 1

% inch middling, and by rotating the container at 1400 rpm. I have obtained a bale of 131 pounds at a density of 13.8 pounds per cubic foot. Based upon my calculations, the cotton at the inner periphery of the container was subjected to 932 gravities. The power required for rotation of the container was 5.0 HP. A bale thus produced compares favorably with cotton gin house bales insofar as density is concerned. It was only necessary to provide relatively light strapping around the bale and it had substantially no tendency to expand axially.

Based upon the foregoing actual experience my calculations indicate that I can obtain densities on the order of 23 pounds per cubic foot by using a container 51 inches in diameter and 18 inches long. This container, rotated at 1800 r.p.m. and giving a force on the cotton of 1818 gravities will produce a bale of 584 pounds in weight and at 23 pounds per cubic foot. The power required for rotating the container will be about 25 Hi.

My experiments so far indicate that bales produced by my improved process and apparatus and which are formed in the concentric layers herein set forth, are much more easily opened than conventional press type bales. That is, by providing the bales such as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, and using cotton as the fiber, I produce a bale which has a very smooth, dense appearance. This distinguishes from the leaf-fold, mechanical press type bale which has the definite appearance upon opening of the thick, doubledover layers representative of the bat which came to the baling press from the condenser. My improved bale thus lends itself to more economical packaging in the sense that, having but small tendency to expand or grow in diameter, and relatively no tendency to grow axially, it can be restrained with relatively light securing materials. Further, by providing a kraftboard box or container I provide a bale covered over substantially all of its surface.

In connection with FIG. 6, the tube 91 may be inserted just before the machine stops. In this connection it has been noted that when the machine finally comes to rest the hole in the center of the bale which was present while it was going at full speed, gradually closes as the machine slows down. When at complete rest there is no hole present in the center of the bale and I theorize that it is this inward growing which relieves in material manner the tendency of the bale to grow outwardly when it is removed from the machine. It will be apparent that with a bale such as shown in FIG. 6 a shaft or the like can .be run through the core and supported in standards, thus facilitating the opening of the bale in the opening room.

In connection with all of the figures, I show a vent hole 100 in the closed end of the cylinder 11 to eliminate the piston effect when the bale is being discharged.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved process, apparatus and fiber bale. By turning the fibers 90 to their original of entry into the rotating container and reciprocating the point of impact, I am enabled to build up a bale which is entirely different from press made bales and which has all the advantages hereinbefore set out. My improved apparatus is far more economical of manufacture than present standard density presses found in cotton gins. Insofar as I :am aware the only limitation on the density obtainable lies in the mechanics involved in the bearings, power requirements, etc. Further, the dimensions of 51 inches in diameter and 18 inches in length are, from my tions, the optimum size for bales of fiber on the order I 23 pounds per cubic foot. In other words, the length of the bale should be about 35% to 40% of the diameter thereof, according to the results of my calculations and experiments to date. While my invention may have utility in the baling of other products, it is especially useful in baling springy fibers of cotton, nylon, etc.

While I have shown my invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The process of baling fibers which comprises directing the fibers while entrained in a carrier fluid stream radially into a receptacle rotating about its own axis which axis is substantially horizontal and at a speed to subject the fibers to a force in excess of 1000 gravities, and reciprocating the point of impact of the fiber stream back and forth axially of the rotating receptacle as the receptacle is filled, thereby gradually to build up the bale by laying on the fibers in generally concentric layers from the inner periphery of the receptacle toward the axis of rotation thereof throughout the length of the bale.

2. The process of baling fibers which comprises directing a fluid-borne stream of the same into a receptacle rotating about its own axis and at a speed to subject the fibers to forces in excess of 1500 gravities thereby to pack the fibers to a density above 15 pounds per cubic foot, said fiber stream being directed generally radially of the axis of rotation of the receptacle, and shifting the point of impact of the fibers back and forth axially of the rotating receptacle thereby to build up a bale by laying on the fibers in generally concentric layers.

3. The process of baling fibers such as lint cotton which comprises rotating a generally cylindrical shaped conrt-ainer having one open end about its longitudinal axis at a rate of speed in excess of one thousand r.p.m., directing the fibers into the rotating container through the open end thereof and generally axially thereof while entrained in a carrier air stream, turning the stream carrying the fibers generally radially of the container thereby to deposit the fibers onto the inner surface of the container substantially normal to the inner periphery thereof, and reciprocating the point of impact of the fiber stream back and forth longitudinally of the container, thereby to build up a bale from the inner periphery of the container toward the longitudinal axis thereof and which comprises a multiplicity of generally concentric layers of fiber.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 963,955 Spoon July 12, 1910 1,2l8,416 Krarup Mar. 6, 19.17 1,567,881 Rogers Oct. 20, 1925 2,071,504 Darling Feb. 23, 1937 2,174,335 Tear Sept. 26, 51939 2,359,082 Boylan Sept. 26, 1944 2,680,899 Sebok et al. June 15, 1954 2,941,348 Biche et al. June 21]., 1960 

1. THE PROCESS OF BALING FIBERS WHICH COMPRISES DIRECTING THE FIBERS WHILE ENTRAINED IN A CARRIER FLUID STREAM RADIALLY INTO A RECEPTACLE ROTATING ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS WHICH AXIS IS SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AND AT A SPEED TO SUBJECT THE FIBERS TO A FORCE IN EXCESS OF 1000 GRAVITIES, AND RECIPROCATING THE POINT OF IMPACT OF THE FIBER STREAM BACK AND FORTH AXIALLY OF THE ROTATING RECEPTACLE AS THE RECEPTACLE IS FILLED, THEREBY GRADUALLY TO BUILD UP THE BALE BY LAYING ON THE FIBERS IN GENERALLY CONCENTRIC LAYERS FROM THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE RECEPTACLE TOWARD THE AXIS OF ROTATION THEREOF THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE BALE. 